A failed vet science class and an idea led FFA teacher Genevieve Ubnoskye to start teaching her students to groom dogs during her Small Animal Management class. 

A couple years ago, the CTE department bought all the equipment necessary for dog grooming in hopes a vet science class would be formed. When this didn’t happen, the supplies sat in a closet for years until Ubnoskye came up with the idea to wash teachers’ dogs every Thursday during her animal management class. 

The students do this every Thursday for six weeks and it is free to the teachers. Even though the students do this every week, there is always an element of excitement when they get to Thursday. 

“It’s something different,” Ubnoskye said “Instead of doing their core classes all day, having to study and write and do math and everything else, it’s just kind of a highlight for them to just get to do something different.”

The students always enjoy getting to take care of the dogs and especially getting to take them back to their owners. Senior Adyson Robbins’ favorite part was returning dogs all groomed back to their owners.

“One time we took (a dog) upstairs to go see his mom, and he was very excited,” Robbins said. “He was just so happy.”

Having dogs in the room for the day also just lifts the spirits of the students, who love playing with them and caring for them.

“I like just getting to spend time with the dogs,” sophomore Juliette Norman said. “They’re really sweet and they’re fun to be around.”

For Ubnoskye, she gets to see her students provide a valuable service for teachers and learn a new skill in the classroom. The love and work the students put into each furry client is always evident, she said.

“I really appreciate the kids working so hard,” Ubnoskye said, “They work really hard, and I appreciate their effort.”